adjective not legally permitted or authorized; unlicensed; unlawful.
disapproved of or not permitted for moral or ethical reasons.
Origin of illicit From the
Latin word
illicitus, dating back to
1645–55. See
il-2 ,
licit Related forms il·lic·it·ly , adverb il·lic·it·ness , noun Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
British Dictionary definitions for illicitness adjective not allowed or approved by common custom, rule, or standard illicit sexual relations
Show More
Derived Forms illicitly , adverb illicitness , noun Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for illicitness adj. c.1500, from Old French illicite (14c.) "unlawful, forbidden," from Latin illicitus "not allowed, unlawful, illegal," from assimilated form of in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + licitus "lawful," past participle of licere "to be allowed" (see licence ). Related: Illicitly .
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
